- Neither The Baron De Palfoy, Nor Charlotta Herself, Could Say He
Could Well Have Acted Otherwise, And Used Their Utmost Endeavours To
Comfort A Father In His Anxieties For The Safety Of So Valuable A Son.
Louisa was also very much troubled at being disappointed in her hope of
embracing a brother, whom she had
Ever dearly loved, and was now more
precious to her than ever, by the proofs she had heard he had given of
his courage and his virtue; but she had another secret and more poignant
grief that preyed upon her soul, and could scarce receive any addition
from ought beside: - she had been now near two months in Paris, yet could
hear nothing of monsieur du Plessis, but that, by the death of his
father, a large estate had devolved upon him, which he had never come to
claim, or had been at Paris for about eighteen months, so that she had
all the reason in the world to believe he was no more. This threw her
into a melancholy, which was so much the more severe as she endeavoured
to conceal it: - she made use of all her efforts to support the loss of a
person she so much loved, and who proved himself so deserving of that
love: - she represented to herself that being relieved from all the
snares and miseries of an indigent life, raised from an obscurity which
had given her many bitter pangs, to a station equal to her wishes, and
under the care of the most indulgent and best of fathers, she ought not
to repine, but bless the bounty of heaven, who had bestowed on her so
many blessings, and with-held only one she could have asked. - These, I
say, were the dictates of reason and religion; but the tender passion
was not always to be silenced by them, and whenever she was alone, the
tears, in spight of herself, would flow, and she, without even knowing
she did so, cry out, Oh du Plessis, wherefore do I live since thou
art dead!
Among the many acquaintance she soon contracted at Paris, there was none
she so much esteemed, both on the account of her own merit, and the
regard she had for Horatio, as mademoiselle de Palfoy. In this young
lady's society did she find more charms for her grief than in that of
any other; and the other truly loving her, not only because she found
nothing more worthy of being loved, but because she was the sister of
Horatio, they were very seldom asunder.
Louisa was one day at the baron's, enjoying that satisfaction which the
conversation of his beautiful daughter never failed to afford, when word
was brought that madam, the countess d'Espargnes, was come to visit
her. - Mademoiselle Charlotta ran to receive her with a great deal of
joy, she being a lady she very much regarded, and who she had not seen
of a long time.
She immediately returned, leading a lady in deep mourning, who seemed
not to be above five-and-twenty, was extremely handsome, and had beside
something in her air that attached Louisa at first sight. Mademoiselle
Charlotta presented her to the countess, saying at the same time, see,
madam, the only rival you have in my esteem.
You do well to give me one, replied the countess, who looks as if she
would make me love her as well as you, and so I should be even with you.
With these words she opened her arms to embrace Louisa, who returned the
compliment with equal politeness.
When they were seated, mademoiselle Charlotta began to express the
pleasure she had in seeing her in Paris; on which the countess told her,
that the affair she came upon was so disagreeable, that nothing but the
happiness of enjoying her company, while she stayed, could attone for
it. You know, my dear, continued madam d'Espargnes, I was always an
enemy to any thing that had the face of business, yet am I now, against
my will, involved in it by as odd an adventure as perhaps you
ever heard.
Charlotta testifying some desire to be informed of what nature, the
other immediately satisfied her curiosity in this manner:
You know, said she, that on the late death of my father, his estate
devolved on my brother, an officer in those troops in Italy commanded by
the prince of Conti: - some wounds, which were looked upon as extremely
dangerous, obliged him, when the campaign was over, to continue in his
winter quarters; - on which he sent to monsieur the count to take
possession in his name; this was done; but an intricate affair relating
to certain sums lodged in a person's hand, and to be brought before the
parliament of Paris, could not be decided without the presence either of
him or myself who had been witness of the transaction. - I was extremely
loth to take so long a journey, being then in very ill health; and
hearing he was recovered, delayed it, as we then expected him in
person: - I sent a special messenger, however, in order to hasten his
return; - but instead of complying with my desires, I received a letter
from him, acquainting me that a business of more moment to him than any
thing in my power to guess at, required his presence in another place,
and insisted, by all the tenderness which had ever been between us, that
I would take on myself the management of this affair: - to enable me the
better to do it, he sent me a deed of trust to act as I should find it
most expedient.
As he did not let me into the secret of what motives detained him at so
critical a juncture, I was at first very much surprized; but on asking
some questions of the messenger I had sent to him, I soon discovered
what it was. He told me that on his arrival, he found my brother had
left his quarters and was gone to Bolognia, on which he followed and
overtook him there; - that he appeared in the utmost discontent, and was
just preparing to proceed to Leghorn, but did not mention to him any
more than he did in his letter to me, what inducement he had to this
journey:
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